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NATURAL RESOURCE ASPECTS OF SUSTAINABLE DEVELOPMENT IN CZECH REPUBLIC

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• Agriculture
• Atmosphere
• Biodiversity
• Desertification and Drought
• Energy
• Forests
• Freshwater
• Land Management
• Mountains
• Oceans and Coastal Areas
• Toxic Chemicals
• Waste and Hazardous Materials

AGRICULTURE

Decision-Making: Coordinating Bodies    

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Decision-Making: Legislation and Regulations 

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Decision-Making: Strategies, Policies and Plans  

State agricultural policy does not support ecological or integrated agricultural production as such, but for social purposes (LFA) it does increase support for: reforestation, maintaining the landscape, pasture of beef herds without milk production, non-productive forest functions, and support of less favored areas. Environmental criteria are not the purpose of the support.

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Status   

In 1996, the share of agricultural production in the Czech Republic stabilized at 30% of the GDP. The use of fertilizers and pesticides is at a low level and has an impact of low profitability of agricultural production. On the negative side, pollution of surface water (nitrogen, soil from erosion) leads also to the pollution of neighboring countries and to a low level of eco-stability of the countryside. On the positive side, there are good quality of ground water and no monoculture in plant production (high biodiversity).

The share of ecological agriculture in the Czech Republic in 1996 was 0.4% (17,022 ha) of total agricultural land. Integrated agricultural systems are also used, mostly for vineyards (4,422 ha).

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This information was provided by the Government of the Czech Republic to the 5th session of the United Nations Commission on Sustainable Development. Last Update: December 1997.

For information on land use for agriculture, click here.
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For country reports on Plant Genetic Resources, click here.
Click here to go to Web Site of the Codex Alimentarius Commission, which includes information on the Codex Alimentarius and the Joint FAO/WHO Food Standards Programme.
Click here to access the Web Site of the Consultative Group on International Agricultural Research (CGIAR).
Click here to access the sixteen international agricultural research centers that are members of the CGIAR.

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ATMOSPHERE

Decision-Making: Coordinating Bodies  

The Ministries of:  Industry and Trade; Environment; Agriculture; Finance; Foreign Affairs;  Transportation and Communication; and Czech Environmental Inspection are responsible for making decisions regarding the protection of the atmosphere.

Inter-ministerial Commission on Climate Change as an advisory body to the Minister of the Environment has been reestablished in 1998. The Commission consists of representatives of Ministry of Environment, Ministry of Industry and Trade, Ministry of Transportation and Communication, Ministry of Agriculture, Ministry of Finance, Ministry of Foreign Affairs , Members of Parliament, scientists and representatives of NGO´s.

Decisions regarding small sources of air pollution (thermal output lower than 0,2 MW) are delegated to the lowest level of public authority.

Decision-Making: Legislation and Regulations 

Better agricultural practice is one of the requirements of the new prepared Law of Air Protection.

A new law on the air protection and ozone layer protection, which provides for the claims of the Peking Amendment to the Montreal Protocol, is being prepared. The Czech Republic aims to access to Peking Amendment by the end of 2000. The law is being prepared the way to correspond to European Parliament and Council regulation (EC) No 2037/2000, which came into force on the 1 October 2000.

The Czech Republic, with the support of the State Environmental Fund, realizes the Chlorofluorocarbon Programme. The programme should ensure the introduction of systematic collecting, recycling and neutralization of the regulated substances and products encompassing freons by the 2003.

In July, the fundamental version of the Procedure of providing for halons collecting was  put together. This structure should be established by the end of 2003.

The usage of the medical preparations with the freons should be reduced and replaced with non-chlorofluorcarbon substances by the 2003.

Decision-making is the responsibility of the Ministry of the Environment - Air Protection Department. Protection of the air against pollution is provided by Act No 309/1991 (amended by Act No. 211/1994) and Act No. 389/1991 (amended by Act No. 212/1994) on State administration for air protection and air pollution charges. Protection of the ozone layer is governed by Act No. 86/1995.

Legislations that address the protection of the atmosphere include: Law No. 309/1991 Coll.  amended by the law No.  211/1994 Coll.; Law No. 389/1991 Coll.  amended by the law No. 212/1994 Coll.; Decree 117/1997 amended by the decree 97/2000; Decree 41/1992; and Regulation 41/92.  Law No. 389/1991 Coll. amended by the law No.  212/1994 Coll. sets air pollution charges (fiscal regulation).

There are no compensations for the adverse effects of atmospheric pollution in the Czech law concerning air protection. However there is the possibility to use the civil law in this case.  In cases of accidents the responsible firms should pay to the farmers.  

Other methods being used for the protection of atmosphere include: Transposition  of the EU directives concerning air protection; ban of leaded petrol in CR from 1.1.2001; and replacement of petrol by gas fuels. The Czech Ministry of the Environment is also endorsing the use of compressed natural gas especially in public passenger and municipal freight transport (i.e. city buses and municipal lorries).

Decision-Making: Strategies, Policies and Plans  

The overall strategy for protecting the atmosphere forms a part of the state environmental policy.

In 1999, the National Climate Change Strategy in the Czech Republic has been prepared by the ICCC. The Government of the Czech Republic has approved this document on 17 May 1999. It contains e.g. the current stage of GHG emissions, their projections in 2010 time horizon in two scenarios, it formulates priorities for further emission reduction and enhancing removals by sinks sector-by-sector and current position of the Czech Republic towards different Kyoto mechanisms. According to governmental decision No.480/99, Ministries of the Environment, Industry and Trade, Transportation and Communication, Agriculture and Finance are responsible for its implementation on their relevant levels. This document has been formulated as an open document, which could be amended any time to reflect actual course of international negotiations.

The strategy relating to substances that deplete the ozone layer involves meeting of the requirements of the Montreal protocol.  Transboundary air pollution is addressed through meeting the obligations resulting for the Czech Republic from the Convention on Long Range Transboundary Air Pollution.

National policies and measures in the meaning of the governmental decision No.480/99 are as follows:

• Energy saving as an unambiguously most significant emission reduction potential in the Czech Republic,

•   Extended utilization of  economically acceptable renewable energy sources ,

•  Removing of deformed price and tariff structure for energy commodities and services and socially acceptable elimination of subsidies on energy production,

•  Utilization of fuels not containing carbon , incl. charge fee

•   Increasing conversion to gas in towns and cities,

• Changes in crediting systems for small and medium entrepreneurs, related to the introduction of energetically more efficient production technologies,

•  Voluntary agreements with energy producers on increasing the energy-production efficiency of sources,

• Introduction of economic instruments (including internalization of external costs) to increase an implementation of economically acceptable transportation systems and means of transportation and decrease the environmental burden,

• Preference of public passenger transportation, introduction of integrated transportation systems and development of their infrastructures,

•  Utilization of alternative fuels in transport,

• Significantly improve science and research activities, systematic observations and public awareness.

Goals for mitigation of the ozone layer depletion: are as follows:

    a)     Short-terms goals

Formulation of the new legal principles for protection of the ozone layer

-          Introduction of the system of collecting, recycling and neutralization of the regulated substances

-          Introduction of the systems of the halons’ collecting

 b)      Long-term goals

-        Eliminate the usage of the HCFC substances by 2010

-          Eliminate the usage of methyl bromide by 2005

Obligations concerning transboundary air pollution result for the Czech republic from the Protocol to abate acidification, eutrophication and ground-level ozone(ACETO):

Decision-Making: Major Groups Involvement  

The Society for Sustainable Living and other NGOs also participate in decision-making.

Programmes and Projects 

Measures or changes that have been introduced to industrial and agricultural activities in order to reduce green house gas emissions and concentrations include the following: 

Industry:

·        Carrying out of tasks resulting from the State Program for Energy Savings and Greater Utilization of Renewable Resources.

 Agriculture and Forestry:

·        Increase of forest areas through a suitable afforestation of unmanaged land,

·        Development of new technologies of soil treatment and cultivation procedures

The projects which are aimed at promoting a better understanding of the processes and consequences of changes in the atmosphere include:  

- Czech Hydrometeorological Institute:

   Air Pollution and Atmospheric Deposition in Data, the Czech Republic 1999, CHMI, Prague

- Project “Climate Change Research and Systematic Observations”, National Climate Programme

Status

Related to the climate change the most vulnerable sectors are water resources, agriculture and forestry; they are minor effects on human health, settlements, and economic activities.

Between the years 1998 and 1999 the emissions of SO₂ , NO_x, and CO decreased dramatically in the Czech Republic due to the new emission limits.  In the period of 1990-1998 the total GHG emissions have been reduced by 23%; since 1994 aggregated GHG emissions are more or less stabilized. 85,9% of all emissions are covered by CO₂, 7,7% by CH₄,  6,1% by N₂O and 0,3% by “new gases” HFC, PFC and SF₆.

Automatic continuous monitoring systems for measurement of the three main pollutants (sulphur dioxides, carbon monoxides and nitrogen oxides) have been installed in the three most polluted areas (North Bohemia, Prague, Ostrava). Detailed information on pollution levels are given daily by the two national TV channels.

Methyl bromide is not produced in the Czech Republic. Its usage is provided   with the import. The usage will be eliminate for the general purposes according to upcoming law on the air protection and ozone layer protection by the 2005.  The production of the HCFC substances is forbidden in the Czech Republic since 1997. Their need is covered by the import. The import and the need of these substances will be excluded by the 2010.

Anthropogenic national annual emissions in 2010 are the following (in thousands of tones per year):

                     SO₂ : 283

                     NO₂: 286

                     NH₃ < 101

                    NMVOC: 220

Reforestation and suitable afforestation of unmanaged land are conducted to increase greenhouse gas sinks.  About 3-4% of our total emission balance are sinks due to forest activities.

Anthropogenic national annual emissions 1998 – 1999 in thousand of tones per year in the Czech Republic:

The measures taken to protect the ozone layer, as given above, should provide for:

• Reducing the usage of the HCFC substances for general purposes to 750 tones in the period before its expulsion;

• Reducing the usage of the CFC substances in the MDI preparations to 130 tones in the period before its expulsion;

• Obtaining and securing 80 tones of halons by collecting;

•  Collecting 250 tones of CFC and 400 tones of HCFC substances  for the purpose of recycling and neutralizing by the 2010;

• Reducing the usage of the methyl bromide for general purposes to 6 tones in the period before its expulsion.

Challenges

There are no problems with air pollution in rural areas, but there are problems in urban areas. For example the Capital City of Prague, in particular the city center, reported the highest values of NO_x in the Czech Republic in recent years with a moderately rising trend caused by the rising traffic density. In 1999 the daily limit values were exceeded again at most Prague stations in the amount exceeding 5 % of all cases. There is no problem with sulfur dioxide. The suspended particulate matter shows similar falling trend in the Czech Republic within 1990 – 1999 period as SO₂ pollution.

Capacity-building, Education, Training and Awareness-raising 

Public awareness of climate change and protection of the atmosphere is promoted through:

•    Implementation of the Czech air protection legislation
• Information in media (television, radio, newspapers).
• Information by Internet.

Priority areas for capacity building identified in the Czech Republic are and will be focused primarily on:

o      Improving the quality of the national greenhouse gas inventories, including establishing of national registry systems,

o       Facilitating the elaboration of national policies and measures to reduce emissions  and estimating their effects,

o       Preparing  national communications and national action plans,

o       Promoting research and systematic observation of an impact assessment and adaptation methods,

o    Development of education, training and public awareness raising exchange.

Information 

Pursuant to the current legislation, air pollution sources are divided into four categories. Complying with this categorization, the ISKO system operated by the Czech hydrometeorological institute (CHMI) includes REZZO 1 – 4 databases (Register of Emissions and Air Pollution Sources) which serve for achieving and presenting data on stationary and mobile air pollution sources. Large and medium-sized sources are monitored individually (point – sources pollution), small source at local level (area sources) and mobile sources at national level (line sources). 

1.      Large pollution sources – REZZO 1

2.      Medium sized pollution sources - REZZO 2

3.      Small pollution sources – REZZO 3

4.      Mobile emission sources  - REZZO 4 

The Czech Environmental Inspection Office (CIZP) is in charge of data collection  and verification of the category of large pollution sources.

CHMI in cooperation with other organizations is in charge of the rest of the categories in the REZZO database.  The ISKO system also contains emission database, which contains data from networks of air quality monitoring stations in the Czech Republic. Data are available on the pages of the Czech Hydrometeorological Institute (www.chmi.cz).  Information is disseminated and shared at the national and international levels through the reporting to the Convention on Long-range Transboundary Air Pollution and through the reporting to the European Commission.

Research and Technologies 

The Air Quality Information System collects and generally provides access to data gathered within major air pollution monitoring networks. It thus provides for a more effective and general utilization of the data. The integrated regionalized evaluation of air pollution levels, and analysis of the development over time of the status of air pollution in the Czech Republic would not be feasible without collecting and archiving systematically at one place all the air pollution data available. Moreover, the constant need to ensure that, these assessments are objective requires simultaneous access to emission, meteorological and climate data, as well as geographical information on the location of pollution sources, the extent and sites of forests and residential areas, the routes of highways and railways etc. When preparing chart and maps of the air pollution and deposition load on the country's territory, geostatistical procedures and the tools of the Geographic Information System (GIS) map algebra are applied to estimate fields of air pollution and deposition characteristics derived from point (station) measurements. It is especially the method IDW and the interpolation method kriging. Both of the above mentioned interpolation methods enable the performing of an objective analysis of the field, i.e. they allow value estimation in every point of the field.

In Annex No. 1 to decree No. 117/1997 Coll., measuring methods and technical requirements on instruments for continuous measurements of emissions from sources of air pollution, are described.

Energy efficiency technologies are needed and are being developed to reduce green house gases emissions and thereby to protect the atmosphere.

Financing

Between 1990 and 1994, approximately 40% of all environmental expenditures were spent on air pollution control (on equipment to reduce emissions and to reconstruct power plants). The State Environment Fund supports investment projects on air pollution control through direct allocations and soft loans. In 1997, the National Property Fund will transfer CZK 6.1 billion to the State Environment Fund to support the Air Recovery Programme.

Cooperation

The Czech Republic is a party of Montreal Protocol since the year 1993 and has ratified it and signed all the Amendments which include: London Copenhagen Amendment in 1996. The Czech government is preparing the accession to the Beijing Amendment.  The latest report to the Montreal Protocol Secretariat was prepared in 1996.  It has also ratified the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change and submitted its report to the UNFCCC Secretariat in 1997.  The Czech Republic signed and ratified UNFCCC in 1993, and signed the Kyoto Protocol in 1998. The Czech republic  is now prepared for starting the ratification of the Kyoto protocol after the COP-6 together with the EU.

The Czech Republic is a party of the Convention on Long-range Transboundary Air Pollution, and it fulfills its obligations resulting from that Convention.

Annex No. 5 to decree No. 117/1997 Coll.

MEASURING METHODS AND TECHNICAL REQUIREMENTS
ON INSTRUMENTS FOR CONTINUOUS MEASUREMENTS

 I. Methods of continuous analysis for measurement of

 A.   Solid pollutants

               - absorption of beta radiation
               - photometry

 B. Gaseous emissions

 II. Requirements on instruments for continuous measurement of pollutant emissions

   Pollutant emissions shall be measured using instruments that must comply with the following technical parameters

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This information was provided by the Government of the Czech Republic to the 9th Session of the United Nations Commission on Sustainable Development. Last Update: March 2001.

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BIODIVERSITY

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Decision-Making: Legislation and Regulations 

Another important element of the strategy is the legislation to have been amended by the end of 1996. The current Act on Nature and Landscape Protection (114/1992) does not provide economic instruments to encourage nature protection. The legislation will be reassessed to harmonize the legitimate interests of nature conservation and appropriate forms of economic activity, and to provide under the law the control of trade in endangered and protected animal and plant species in accordance with the CITES Convention. The Act emphasizes the territorial system of ecological stability which represents the national ecological network, which is connected with the European Ecological Network.

Decision-Making: Strategies, Policies and Plans  

The biological diversity in the Czech Republic has been markedly reduced due to industrial pollution, large-scale farming and unfavorable agricultural practices with heavy use of chemicals. Therefore, conservation of biological diversity is considered one of the priorities of the State Environmental Policy. During 1999-2005, the primary targets will be to protect biodiversity by minimizing harmful impacts, revitalizing biotopes and protecting and reintroducing endangered indigenous species.

An important element of the Czech Nature Protection Strategy is the system of protected areas: national parks (l,l03 km2), protected landscape areas (10,416 km2), national nature reserves (264 km2), national nature monuments (27 km2), nature reserves (257 km2) and nature monuments (276 km2). The establishment of national parks is provided by Government decree.

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Due to some improvements in agricultural practices, biological diversity is gradually improving in the Czech Republic. Many invertebrates and birds are reappearing. New hedgerows, bush game refuges and green areas have been established to divide ploughed fields and to limit the extent of erosion of agricultural land. Consequently, the number of game animals has increased.

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Financing 

Subsidies were provided from the state budget for the following measures: protection of the landscape against erosion, preservation and reinforcing of species biodiversity, increasing the retention capacity of land in the framework of the Programme of Conservation of the Landscape and the Programme for Revitalization of River Systems. Financing is provided by the State Environment Fund and foreign aid.

Cooperation

The Czech Republic signed and ratified the Convention on Biological Diversity in 1993.  It has also ratified the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora and submitted its latest report for this Convention in 1995.

The Czech Republic has signed the Convention on Wetlands of International Importance Especially as Waterfowl Habitat, Convention on the Conservation of Migratory Species of Wild Animals, and Agreement on the Conservation of Bats in Europe. Bilateral cooperation develops with Germany and other European countries.

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This information was provided by the Government of the Czech Republic to the fifth session of the United Nations Commission on Sustainable Development. Last Update: December 1997.

Click here for information on protected areas in the Czech Republic.
Click here for the International Center for Genetic Engineering and Biotechnology Biosafety WebPages
Click here to link to the Biosafety Information Network and Advisory Service (BINAS), a service of the United Nations Industrial Development Organization (UNIDO), which monitors global developments in regulatory issues in biotechnology.
Click here to go to the Web Site of UNEP's International Register on Biosafety.
Click here to link to biosafety web sites in the European Union.]
For access to the Web Site of the Convention on Biological Diversity, click here:
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For the country-by-country, Man in the Biosphere On-Line Query System, click here:

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DESERTIFICATION AND DROUGHT

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Decision-Making: Legislation and Regulations 

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The Czech Republic is preparing to accede to the International Convention to Combat Desertification in Countries Experiencing Drought and/or Desertification Particularly in Africa.  Czech experts are prepared to help developing countries in the sphere of  pedology, hydrology, and other related areas.

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This information was provided by the Government of the Czech Republic to the fifth session of the United Nations Commission on Sustainable Development. Last Update: December 1997.

For access to the Web Site of the Convention to Combat Desertification and Drought, click here:

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ENERGY

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Decision-Making: Strategies, Policies and Plans  

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Status   

Between 1990 and 1994, the production of energy shifted from the use of fossil to renewable fuels, although coal and lignite are still the most important sources of energy in the Czech Republic (59% in 1992). Consequently, the relative output of the energy industry in producing emissions has fallen. Air pollution is still considered to be the number one environmental problem in the country. Therefore, an Air Recovery Programme was adopted and measures to reduce emissions are being implemented in most large coal-burning power stations. Some units have been shut down. Gasification projects in municipalities are proceeding rapidly.

The restructuring of the industrial sector, namely outdated plants, has also resulted in reduction of emissions. Since 1986, the consumption of ozone depleting substances has decreased by 88%. Current legislation stimulates industry to take remedial measures and to invest in environmental improvements. Emission limits have also been established by law, and the 1998 deadline for compliance with prescribed emission limits is projected to be met by approximately 75% of polluters. However, the provisions concerning air pollution are inadequate for providing sufficient incentives for industries to reduce emissions and/or introduce pollution control techniques. In addition, the national economy continues to demand more energy. Coal and all kinds of energy sources are subject to a reduced level of value added tax, and the prices of energy and energy carriers are very cheap. Incentives to encourage energy saving and to apply modern energy efficiency technology are also inadequate.

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This information was provided by the Government of the Czech Republic to the fifth session of the United Nations Commission on Sustainable Development. Last Update: December 1997.

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FORESTS

Decision-Making: Coordinating Bodies  

The Ministry of Agriculture and the Ministry of Environment are responsible for decision-making in this area.

Decision-Making: Legislation and Regulations 

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Decision-Making: Strategies, Policies and Plans  

A State Forest Policy was approved by the Government in 1994. The protection of the forests and forest management are provided by Act No. 289/1995, which creates the legal framework for balanced management of all the functions of forests. The Act stipulates the obligation of reforestation of clearings within two years.

Decision-Making: Major Groups Involvement  

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Programmes and Projects 

A programme of afforestation of agricultural land began in 1994. In the framework of the programme subsidized within the restructuring of plant production (total amount CZK 65 million) 1,516 ha were afforested during 1994-1996. In some areas damaged by emissions, foundations developed which subsidize regeneration of forests.

Status 

Forests cover 33% of the country's territory (2,631,000 ha) and these areas are increasing (see other data). Of the forest territory, some 43% has been classified as protective forest area and special purpose areas. Forest in large-scale and small-scale protected areas covers approximately 27% of the forest area.

Most of the forest areas had to be logged due to emission damage since 1958. In 1994, 63% of the forest area was damaged; in 1995, 61.6%; in 1996, 59.7%. Most of the resulting clearings have been reforested. The threat to forests has seemingly diminished after the logging of the destroyed areas on the North Bohemian mountain ranges and the reduction of emissions of sulphur compounds, through the health of forest vegetation, dropped further at some sites.

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Research and Technologies 

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